The cat sighed with relief. She didn't want to be eaten so soon after hatching. That would be very disappointing - she would have had the chance to learn so much but to have her journey ended so soon? That really would have been sad. And disappointing.

The word magic crossed across her head again and for a second her eyes went dull but the thought of crossing the world to see a giant serpent was far too exciting for her and it kept her from falling into a trance again. "Oh yes, I'll try my best! I want to learn everything! I want to see all the caves and meet everyone and learn...learn all...the m̴͈̥̆̃͝͠ä̵̤͓͎ǵ̵̹̩̊̒̉i̸͍͈̭̋̀̂c̷̦̏̐." It happened for just a second before her eyes cleared and she stepped up next to Black Dog.

She reared up and tried to claw her way up the side of Black's side, her claws catching at one point and she cringed, hoping that she didn't hurt her friend. she managed to get to the top and she tried to sheath her claws but she was a little scared that she would fall. So she tried to find a spot of thick fur and skin so that he wouldn't hurt and held on tight. "Sorry," she murmured, really hoping that she hadn't hurt him.

@Black

The dog--stoic enough under pain, in general--gave hardly a huff of surprised pain as the kitten clambered up him. He hadn't even whimpered at the intense and searing agony that the spell before had given him; had it lasted a bit longer, or afflicted him when he remained still, perhaps he would have cried out. But as it stood he dismissed that tiny prick of little claws at once, peering back to ensure that the kitten was secure.

"You must climb; it is of no consequence," he forgave, rumbling in his dignified manner. He hardly noticed, too, her brief... flicker, of voice. Instead he turned, peering out of the little rocky den, stepping out of its thick boulder cover and into Polaris proper once more. He paced off, smooth and swift enough, but at nothing more than a fast walk.

"If you require rest, or if you begin to fall, or if you need some other thing, you must speak and tell me." He thought, for a moment, as he walked.

"If you remain awake--so long as you do--watch, too, for things of consequence. Aquarian will require them." Loosely-translated, it meant that Aquarian needed an offering for his summon--they would need to find something either on the way, or once they had arrived.

________________

exit Black; @Wilder

The kitten nodded, even though Black obviously couldn't see her and rested her head on his shoulders. They rocked around a bit, sure, but it was nice and warm. And quite comfortable. It was going to be a long road and she was exhausted from the day's activities. As they moved through Polaris and away from the Spire, the distant memory of the torment she had received in her chrysalis slowly faded to the back and she was able to close her eyes and sleep peacefully.

*exit